Department News

Northern Michigan University's English Department will host a visiting scholar presentation titled "Brave New World and the Rise of the Factory Farm" by University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Professor Stewart Cole. It is scheduled at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, in Peninsula I in the Northern Center.

Northern Michigan University's College of Business will host NMU alumnus John Baltes as the 2022 Executive in Residence Sept. 27-29. He is the retired CEO of SVA, a multi-entity professional services company. Baltes will share insights from his 30 years of leadership and business strategy experience, as well as a strong data systems background, with the NMU and Marquette communities.

Northern Michigan University graduate assistant Benjamin Fidler won first place in the most recent international 3-Day Novel Contest. Elijah Sparkman, an MFA graduate of NMU, also participated and advanced to the final selection. Instead of relaxing during Labor Day weekend 2021, both wrote tirelessly to create a novel or novella in 72 hours, competing against other writers worldwide. The judges take nearly a year to read hundreds of submissions and recently released the results. 

Four student finalists recently presented their entrepreneurial ideas at the NMU College of Business' Big Pitch event, the culminating activity in the annual new business venture competition. Donald McKaba earned $3,000 for winning the Big Pitch with Wasteless, his plan for an “innovative shopping experience” that aims to reduce one-use containers that end up in landfills. Grace DeNoya won $5,000 for best business plan for You'd Never Know, a 100% gluten-free bakery, and $1,500 each for best trade fair display and crowd favorite.

Northern Michigan University will host the first-of-its-kind Great Lakes Cannabis Education Conference on Tuesday, April 19. The conference will showcase best practices in cannabis teaching and research, summarize the industry's current state and developing trends, and provide insights from employers and experts.

Northern Michigan University professor Scott Jordan spent NMU spring break week leading a Wilderness First Responder certification course for nine students and a faculty member from Montreat College in North Carolina. 

The family of Ben Lauren, a Northern Michigan University alumnus who was tragically killed in the line of duty as a volunteer firefighter at age 23, has established an endowed scholarship in his memory to support NMU mechanical engineering technology students. Lauren graduated from the program in 2018.

Northern Michigan University will celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November with a series of presentations and other activities on campus and in the community.

Northern Michigan University Assistant Professor Stacy Boyer-Davis is the recipient of the 2021 Accountant Teaching and Excellence Award from the Michigan Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA). The award recognizes educators in the profession for the crucial role they play in shaping and growing the CPA pipeline and the future of the industry.